Child&#39;s vehicle.



J. F. WHITEDEC'D. l-f. mun. Am'umstnnmx.

v cmw's VEHICLE. APPLICATION FILED APB. l 3. I9I8.

Patented Mair. 11, 1919.

being widened and-serving as a seat.

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IRATE-IX OF SAID JOSEPH F. WHITE, DECEASED.

CHILD'S VEEiiCLTZh specification of Letters Eatent.

Application am April 1a, 1918. Serial no. ass tea.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH F. WI-Inn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Broolrline inthe count 1 of Norfolk and State of-lviassachusetts, ave invented new and useful 1m rovements in Childrens Vehicles, of whic the following is a specification. I I

This invendon relates to a vehicle adapted to bejrnoved by the alternate thrust of the feet or the rider on a floor, the vehicle being intended to caused by small children, and including a body niember which the rider bestrides, and provided with a. traveling rear supportincluding a pair of traveling inanbers, such as wheels, or runners, and a diiigible traveling forward support inclu'dan upright steering post gournaled 1n the forward portion of the body member,

and a traveling member, such as a single wheel, or runner, connected with the post.

The invention is embodied in certain improvements in the dirigible support, said support being provided with an adjustable rod which may be used in either of three positions, viz., in axial alinement with the post as a steering-rodfiinclined backwardly from the post as a steering tiller, and inclined forward from the post as a handle whereby the vehicle may be drawn.

the accompanying drawings forming part ofthis specificatn,-

Figure 1 is a side view of a vehicle embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

vFig. 3 is an enlarged section on line 8-3 i Fig. i is a perspective view of a ortion on? the steering post, a part being roken away.

. 5 s a section on line 5-5 of'Fig. 2.

ii g i Fig. is a view similar to Fig. 5, showing the steering rod inoiined backward to serve as a tailor. Fig. '4" post, and includes a side view of a portion of the rod in the position shown by Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 5, showing the rod inclined forward to serve as a handle or tongue. 7

The same reference characters indicate the same partsin all of the figures in the drawings, 12 represents the body member, which is elongated, its rear portfl-lipln e is a top plan view of the steeringrear portion is provided with a suitable traveling rear support, which as hbre shown, includes a bolster 13, and a pair of traveling members 14:, here shown as wheels connected with the bolster to rotate. Rune desired.

15 represents a journaled in a bearing in portion of the body member 12, as best shown provided The lower provided with may constitute with a reduced journal portion 16.

a transverse pin 17, which the axle of a steering front wheel 18, although, if desired, a runner may" be substituted for this wheel.

ably engaged able to permit the use of the rod as a steering member, which inclined rearward to constitute a tiller, as

shown by Fig. 6, or forward to constitute a and rod being provided with complemental stop members adapted to prevent separation of the rod from the post.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention here shown, the post, which projects above the body member 12, is provided in its upper portion with a longitudinal socket 20, adapted to receive a closely fitting lower end portion 01": the rod 19. In the post above the socket is formed a transverse slot 21,

which communicates with the socket and is the upper end, and at the front and open at rear sides of the post. The lower end p'orraeeatea Mar. ii, retai- 19 represents asteering rod which is mov with the post 15, and is adjustmay be either coaxial with the post, as shown by Figs. 1 and 5, or

ners'may be employed instead of wheels, if

steering post, which is the forward end? 5. by Figs. 5, 6, and 8, the post being.

end of the post is bifurcated, and

ostwhen the rod is in any position of the rod is provided with a longitu bling the post and rod, thepost is inserted in an upright position in transverse pin pin passing through the transverse slot 21 of the post and through the longitudinal slot 22 of the rod. The arrangement is such that when the rod is in an upright position, the pin 24 is at or near the upper end of the lon itudinal slot 22. The length of said slot issiich that the rod may be withdrawn from the socket 20, and inclined either backward,

dinal slot 22, closed at both ends. In assemf 6 '10 the socket 20, and a 24'is inserted in the post, said cle while leaning backward. is adjusted shown by Fig. 8, the vehicle may be conveniently drawn, like a hand as shown by Fig. 6, to serve as a tiller, or forward, as shown by Fig. 8, to serve a tongue. When the rod is in either of the in clined positions described, the lower end of the longitudinal slot 22 abuts against the pin constituting comv pm, said end and the plemental stop members, preventing the separation of the rod from the post. The thickness of the rod is such that it has a close sliding fit on the sides of the transverse slot 21, so that when the rod is inclined, its opposite portions have elongated bearings on the sides of the slot 21, permitting the effective use of the rod, either as a tiller, or as a tongue, a horizontal swinging movement of the rod in either direction imparting a turning movement to the post.

When the rod is adjusted as shown by Fig. 6, the rider is enabled to steer the vehi- When the rod cart. W hen the rod is upright, and coaxial with the post, it has a practically rigid connection with the latter through the pin 24, and the sides of the slot 22, the rod serving as an upright steering rod.

It is obvious that the rod unay be swung downward and rearward into contact with the body 12, when it is desired to fold the vehicle for storage or shipment.

I prefer to make the body 12 in two sections, the edges of which are abutted together on the line 26 (Fig. 2 a portion of the post bearing being formed in each section. to be conveniently engaged with the body member, the sections of which are suitably united after assemblage, by any suitable means.

As indicated by Fig. 4-, and by dotted lines in F 2, the pin 17 is elongated and pro jects from opposite sides of the bifurcated portion of the post, so that the end portions of the pin constitute foot rests and means for steering by the feet of the rider;

Itwill be seen that the connection between the post and rod afiorded by the slot 22 and pin 24, constitutes a slot-and-pin connection between the post and rod adapted to impart turning movement from the rod to the post, when the rod and post are coaxial, and permitting independent swinging and limited endwise movements of the red.

It will also be seen that the sides of the slot 21 and the sides of the rod contactingtherewith, constitute reciprocal bearing faces on the post and rod, whereby a turn Lao This construction enables the post ing movement will be imparted from the rod to the post when the rod is inclined.

ll claim:

1. A vehicle of the character stated, comprising an elongated body member having traveling supporting tion, and a bearing at its forward portion,

engaged with the forward portion of the body member, said dirigiblo means including an upright steering post having a journal portion in said bearing, and a rod which is movably engaged with the post and is adjustable relatively thereto, to permit the use of the rod as a steering member, either co-' axial with the post, or inclined rearward to constitute a tiller, or forward to constitute a tongue, means being provided for imparting a turning movement from the rod to the post, when the rod is in any position to which it may be adjusted,'said means including a slot-and-pin connection between the post and rod adapted to impart a turning movement from the the rod and post are coaxial, and independent swinging and limited endwise movements of the rod, and reciprocal bearing faces on the turning movement may be imparted from the rod to the post when the rod is inclined.

2. A vehicle of the character stated, com prising an elongated body member having traveling supporting means at its rear portion, and dirigible traveling supporting means engaged with the forward portion of the body member, said dirigible means ineluding an upright steering post journaled in the body, and provided with a longitudinal socket, and with atransverse slot com municating with said socket, a rod formed to enter said socket, and oscillate in said transverse slot and provided with a longitudinal slot, and a pin engaged with the post and extending through the transverse slot thereof and through the longitudinal slot of the rod, the pin and longitudinal slot permitting limited longitudinal movements of the rod, whereby the rod-may be inserted in the socket and maintained with the post, and withdrawn, from the socket and turned on the when inclined, havor as a tongue, the rod,

on thesides of the ing elongated bearings transverse slot.

- testimony whereof 1 have affixed my means at its rear porand (llI'lglble traveling supporting meansrod to the post when permitting post and rod, whereby a thereby coaXial n pin to an inclined position permitting 1ts use either as a tiller,

so i 

